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Monthly Archives: May 2012

As you may or may not know, I live in a basement. Which isn’t altogether the worst thing, but when the weather is as nice as it has been the last week or so, I get a pretty severe case of DECK ENVY. Ohhhh, to relax in a patio chair, with a beer in hand, listening to some sweet jams on my boombox. Do the kids still say that? Boombox? Sweet Jams? Patio Chair?

*Artist’s Conception

Unfortunately, I don’t have a deck. Not yet, anyway. But I do have a patio chair in my apartment. (It’s covered with a blanket. I’m pretty sure no one can tell.) And I do have beer, and I can listen to sweet jams.

So, the question I pose to you, dear reader and obviously very cool person, what’s your favourite summer song? What tune would we be listening to if you were here hanging out in the patio chair? (That’s right, I’d even let you sit in the patio chair and I only have one. That’s how much I like you.)

The best answer (ie: the most summer-y song, that will get added to my Summer Jams Playlist) will WIN a Steam Whistle prize pack, which includes TWO tickets to the Steam Whistle UNSIGNED Show on June 1st!

The highly lovely Dean Marino and Wendy Leung of Papermaps joined me in my kitchen for a little vegan cookery recently! It’s the second time grilled cheese sandwiches have made an appearance on Rain’s World (the first time was withTokyo Police Club) – but it’s the FIRST time they haven’t actually involved ANY REAL CHEESE!

Caution: this video might change the way you view vegan food forever. Also caution: Dean and Wendy are really really nice people.

Papermaps, by the way, will be playing NEXT WEEK at the El Mocambo! May 25th, to be exact, at 10:45pm. Doors open at 9, and they’ll be joined by Mercy Now, Goodnight Sunrise and Rulers of the Moon.

They’re also going to be rocking NXNE, of course! Catch ’em June 14th at Two Way Monologues’ Showcase at Rancho Relaxo! Their set it at 11pm sharp and you can pick up your tasty NXNE wristbands right HERE.

Wait! One more thing before we go!

The beautiful and avocado-slicingly skilled Wendy has JUST released a new album by her side project, Wendy Vs. called Crayone Wars. Dean’s part of it as well, and you can buy the whole album on the Wendy Vs. bandcamp… right HERE!

Here’s what it sounds like. I think you’re going to like it a whole heap of a lot. I do!

Look out for Papermaps’ new album, they’re hard at work on it, and it’s gonna be rad.

Keep up to date with ALL things Papermaps at their website: PAPERMAPS.NET

Yesterday, I went to my very first Toronto City Council Meeting at City Hall, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

WAIT! STOP RIGHT THERE! DON’T GO. HEAR ME OUT.

I know, municipal government. It might not sound like the most riveting subject in the world. But I assure you, it can be. Maybe you’ve wondered what actually happens inside the giant UFO that we call the Toronto City Hall Council Chamber.

This is Dean, and he’s excited about MUNICIPAL POLITICS!

Watching a Toronto City Council meeting is like watching reality television, but it actually MATTERS! Instead of voting off some douchebag you’ve never met or rewarding some attention-seeking asshat with an SUV and a briefcase full of cash, they’re voting on whether or not YOUR community will get bike lanes, or if YOUR favourite public pool will still be operational this summer!

You already know thatMayor Rob Fordis endlessly entertaining. But it doesn’t stop there! There’s an entire cast of characters that make City Council the wonderful piece of performance art that it is!

I faithfully watch Toronto City Council meetings online – but going down to City Hall in person was a whole different story. You can see the councillors working the crowd – working their fellow council members, the media, the audience.

There are even funny moments, like when Nunziata asked us all to make sure our phones were on “vibrator.” And when Rob Ford ran across the room (ran!) to his seat to make sure he could get a vote in on time, and Councillor Shiner was heard to quip: “It was like a lightning bolt! I could hardly see him!” You can FEEL the tension when the councillors debate, even when it’s about something as seemingly boring as the “Transfer of Properties to Build Toronto and Declaration as Surplus” (which, by the way, I still don’t completely understand).

These councillors really are in there for a reason- they CARE about their communities and our city. And, darn it, it’s pretty cool.

Bottom line: If you’re from Toronto, you should go to a City Council meeting. They’re open to the public, they’re free, they’re air-conditioned… and they’re fun. I promise.